British Gas Blocking

Maddogjones

Hello All apologies if this is a repeat.

I current have BG as my supplier for electricity, there is no gas at the property. After some shockingly shocking service from BG I decided, back in January, to switch to a different supplier.

I contacted the new company and arranged the switch over. A few day letter I was contacted by the new supplier to be told that the switch over could not take place as there was a "block" on my account. Very strange as I wasn't aware of any issues. I contacted BG who told me that there was no block on their system. I requested a final bill it was recived, I paid, on with the switch.

My attempts to switch suppliers have all failed. 3 different suppliers have all said there is a block on my account, BG still deny this. I have made further requests for final bills and paid them all. On the 14 of March I requested my final final final bill on paper instead of paying over the telephone and it is yet to arrive.

However today I have had a phone call from BG collections dept demanding £54.47 otherwise the debt would be passed on to a collection agency and this will affect my credit rating. I explained my position and that I wanted something in writing. The rather rude little git on the phone told me "It doesnt work that way. You have to pay now" I declined, he said he was passing it on and cut me off.

I don't think I was in the wrong in declining but I might have been. Does anyone know what would be the best way to tackle this issue. I'm reluctant to go through the long winded buck passing BG complaints procedure as that is the main reason for switching in the first place.

Any suggestions would very much appreciated. Thanks all.

chanz4

You cant pay a final bill until you switch fully, something apart from the debt is stopping the transfer

Maddogjones

Right.. but BG don't seem to be forth coming with what that is. They say there is no block on the account.

chanz4

ask your supplier you are moving to t look on ecoes what the objection reason is

Maddogjones

Good suggestion. Thank you. I have previously asked companies what the block is but they gave no reason only directed me to BG. It shouldn't be down to us to run around doing their admin.

Today I had further 4 calls all from BG collections demanding payment of the £54.47 and threatening debt collectors, legal action, warrant of entry and the dvd extras. A bit heavy handed for £54.47 but there we are.

I questioned the warrant of entry pointing out that they would need to go to court and agent on the telephone said "we don't need to go to court we just need the police present".

After yesterdays fun and games I made sure to record the calls.

now for a stern letter to Phil Bentley with an audio CD of how his wonderful staff conduct themselves. Then for some legal action of my own.

Fire_Fox

Invoke the British Gas complaints procedure, write to them and head your letter Complaint.

SwanJon

As Firefox says, start down the complaints procedure.
There are only a limited number of (valid) reasons for an objection:

• Debt (a balance over 28 days old)
• Still in a minimum contract (this is only 28 days for pretty much all suppliers)
• erm, can't remember any more (anyone?)

The losing supplier (BG here) can't tell the gaining supplier why under data protection so they need you to speak to BG to find out why. If there really is £54 outstanding that will be enough to block it, but I can't imagine that has been the case all along.

If a bill isn't paid it will move down a path towards a warrant & exchaneg to prepayment. The costs of this path are added to the balance at some points. They will need to go to court for this warrant, but by this point the costs will be more than £60 - doubling the bill for you.

Get it down in writing, keeping it as neutral as you can. Say that you are raising a complaint - if you have already ask them to link it to the existing complaint. They have 8 weeks to resolve the complaint from when it was first made and then you can take it to the Energy Ombudsman.

Maddogjones

Have written a letter today and sent recorded.

£54 out standing is an estimate. Apparently I need to pay the full amount first before they can "tell me what the actual is"

I have followed the BG complaints procedure previously with no affect. Now I shall be going for the head of the snake as it were.

I will post the out come. And any info that will assist anyone else who is having similar issues.

Thank you all for your input very much appreciated

chanz4

so you do have a bill outstanding? confused as you said you had paid your bill. You really need to be fully straight if you want advice, also how much different is your current read?

Maddogjones

I had paid up to date.

The £54, I assumed it that was for Electricity used during attempts to switch over suppliers. Which had failed due to this unknown block on my account. When I questioned the amount BG collections refused to take a meter reading over the phone claiming the £54 to be correct. And said I needed to pay that asap. All the while still not telling me why there was a block in place on my account.

Hopefully that made sense...

Got a call on Tuesday regarding the letter I sent on the 25 March. The £54 they claim to be out standing has been cancelled. Block has been lifted. Both the £54 and the block was put on my account due to an error. And was down to previous occupants account not being closed properly.

So that's what all that fuss was about.

Fire_Fox

The point is not simply for the complaints procedure to elicit action (tho that would be nice!) it is so that you can take your case to the ombudsman.